Photo provided by Tonya Lowentritt -- Ephraim Massawe, right, associate professor of occupational safety, health and environment at Southeastern Louisiana University, demonstrates some of the new equipment purchased for the program by the New Orleans chapter of the American Association of Drilling Engineers. From left are students Brennen Waguespack, of Gonzales; Leiah Roberts, of Springfield; and Melanie Verdin, of Loranger.

Southeastern students receive scholarships

Photo provided by Tonya Lowentritt -- Ephraim Massawe, right, associate professor of occupational safety, health and environment at Southeastern Louisiana University, demonstrates some of the new equipment purchased for the program by the New Orleans chapter of the American Association of Drilling Engineers. From left are students Brennen Waguespack, of Gonzales; Leiah Roberts, of Springfield; and Melanie Verdin, of Loranger.

Several students enrolled in Southeastern Louisiana University’s occupational, safety, health and environment program have been awarded scholarships sponsored by the Greater Baton Rouge Chapter of the American Society of Safety Engineers.

The scholarships were officially presented to Brennan Waguespack, of Gonzales; Melanie Verdin, of Loranger; Leiah Roberts, of Springfield; and Zachary Smith, of Franklinton.

“We are delighted to receive scholarship support for these worthy students in our OSHE program and are indebted to the GBR American Society of Safety Engineers for their support of our program,” said Sebastian van Delden, head of the Southeastern Department of Computer Science and Industrial Technology. “Our partnership with GBRASSE is strong, and we appreciate their support by serving as professional advisers to our program.”

Van Delden gave special credit to GBRASSE President Brett Perricone, a Southeastern graduate who has emphasized the importance of the university’s program in providing highly qualified graduates for area industries, a news release said.

The scholarships were presented at the Livingston Parish Literacy and Technology Center, where major equipment items recently donated by the New Orleans Chapter of the American Association of Drilling Engineers are used in OSHE coursework. The equipment included a variety of noise, airborne contaminate, ventilation and particulate monitoring and evaluation devices.